You Are Not a Slave to Sin
When sexual temptation feels overwhelming, God’s Word calls you to stand, not resign.
There comes a point in the life of every Christian when the battle against sin becomes painfully real. For some, it may feel like an invisible war. For others, especially those entangled in sexual sin, the war is loud, humiliating, and deeply spiritual. A young man recently voiced this struggle in raw, honest terms confessing not only his repeated failure but his sense of defeat so profound that he considered excommunicating himself from the church.
But is that the answer? Is self-excommunication the way forward for someone drowning in sin?
The simple and biblical answer is no.
God Doesn’t Call You to Resign He Calls You to Fight
When we look at the New Testament passages like Matthew 18:15–18, 1 Corinthians 5:11–13, and 1 Timothy 1:20, excommunication is a church-led action, not a personal resignation. It's a corporate response to persistent, unrepentant sin not a self-imposed punishment meant to satisfy one’s guilt.
Romans 13:14 gives us the real action plan: “Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” That means cutting off the access points the screens, the secrecy, the mental fantasy that gives birth to action. If you know where sin begins in your life, set fire to the bridge.
And James 5:16 urges confession not as a way to expose and shame but to bring healing: “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” Healing is the goal. Not disqualification. Not dismissal.
This is why the local church exists not for perfect people, but for the broken who know they can’t walk alone.
You’re Not a Dog, You’re a Man Made in God’s Image
It may sound harsh, but Scripture doesn’t pull punches when describing the nature of sin. 2 Peter 2:22 says, “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” That’s what it looks like when we repeatedly run back to sin knowing its destruction.
But hear this: you are not a dog. You are not a pig. You are a man created in the image of God. You are not made to crawl in the dirt of lust and shame. You are called to stand on two feet as one redeemed and sanctified by Christ.
Do you really want your identity to be “slave to sin”? Is that who you were meant to be?
Statistics show that more than 64% of Christian men and 15% of Christian women confess to struggling with pornography at least once a month. This isn’t a fringe issue. It's a silent epidemic in the church but silence must end if freedom is to begin.
Satan is a Liar, and Sin is a Deception
Scripture calls sin deception for a reason. It promises pleasure, power, or peace but delivers pain, addiction, and guilt. Ephesians 2:1–3 describes our old lives as being dead in sin, following the ways of the world, under the influence of Satan. But that’s not who we are anymore in Christ.
You were not made to be duped. You were not created to be a slave. You were not designed to surrender to your impulses. You were bought at a price the blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:20). That means your body is not your own. It was purchased by divine love, and it is meant for more than moments of illicit pleasure.
There’s a Better Future Than What You’re Settling For
God is not done with you. The shame you feel is not your end. In James 4:7–10, there’s a powerful progression: “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you… Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
Do you hear that? He will exalt you. That means God doesn’t want to bury you under guilt; He wants to lift you out of it. He’s not eager to cast you away. He’s ready to restore you if you’ll turn to Him.
In fact, research from Covenant Eyes shows that accountability honest, vulnerable, mutual confession and encouragement can reduce repeat pornography use by more than 50%. God designed community for a reason. We fight better when we don’t fight alone.
Don’t Throw in the Towel Take Up the Sword
Satan wants you to throw in the towel. He wants you to believe you're hopeless, helpless, and irredeemable. But Ephesians 6:17 tells us to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” That’s your weapon. You are not powerless. The Spirit of Christ lives in you, and He equips you to overcome.
Psalm 16:11 says, “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” You don’t need to settle for the fleeting thrill of sin when eternal joy is offered to you in Christ.
This isn’t just about behavior modification it’s about a complete transformation of your identity, your desires, and your destiny.
You’re not meant to wallow. You’re called to rise.
So no, don’t excommunicate yourself. Don’t resign from the church. Don’t give up your place in the body of Christ. Confess. Repent. Ask for help. Stand up. Strike your sin.
You are not a dog.
You are a man.
You are not your sin.
You are Christ’s.
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